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2012 Honda Civic Si Navi Coupe, an Autoweek Drivers Log Car Review

August 28, 2011

The four-cylinder engine in the 2012 Honda Civic Si is rated at 201 hp.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: So that's what happened to all the character that got sucked out of the regular Civic that we had a few weeks back: They took it and stuck it into this 2012 Honda Civic Si. Light, precise shifter; responsive handling; surprising grip at irresponsible speeds; firm, easy-to-modulate braking with almost no dive and a zingy engine that'll bounce off the rev limiter all day long. This is what a Honda is supposed to feel like. It reminds me of my '88 Prelude Si, a high compliment in my book.

Of course, that also means there's mediocre torque until higher in the rev band, and the car never feels out-and-out powerful in the way, say, a Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 does; balance is key here. The high-strung four-cylinder really comes alive between 5,000 rpm and 7,000 rpm, producing a satisfying surge when most engines are struggling for breath.

Inside, the Honda Civic breaks no new ground, nor is it a bad place to spend time. As I mentioned in my review of the 2012 Civic EX-L sedan, visibility is excellent, the dash textures and densities imply quality and the controls are easy to use. Again, no automatic climate control is present, and the navigation/radio head unit feels dated with pixilated fonts and poor resolution.

The separate in-dash multifunction screen showed up for duty on our Civic Si. The display toggles through a variety of screens to show radio station, fuel economy, power output and the like, presenting the information in the same plane as the digital speedometer. Overall, it was easy to use and attractive, but the detail it presented was limited. One assumes this is an interim step as Honda refines its infotainment strategy on the Civic, and as long as it's moving in the direction of this display and away from the radio/navigation head unit, improvements should be forthcoming.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: The mechanicals on this car are terrific. The four-banger revs like crazy, and I'm glad Honda put lights on the dash to tell you when i-VTEC is engaged because it no longer changes the engine note as dramatically as in past Hondas. The steering is quick and precise, the suspension is more hunkered down than on the base Civic, and with the precise shifter it all adds up to a sporting drive. It's just too bad that the exterior and interior styling are just so, well, bland. There's really nothing there that hints at any excitement.

I'm not a huge a fan of the split dash, with one gauge cluster behind the wheel, another midpoint on the dash. I guess it all works, but for me, it took some getting used to. It seems gimmicky at best and it's not all that functional.

Some cars look terrific and then don't live up performance-wise to their looks. I'd say the Civic Si is just the opposite. If you can get past the bland exterior and so-so interior, it's a really fun car to drive, especially if you like engines that live to be wound to seven grand.

ART DIRECTOR TARA KLEIN: The experience in this 2012 Honda Civic Si coupe, while much better than the EX-L sedan, still left some basic needs unsatisfied. I agree with Roger and Andy that this car was way more fun to drive and impeccably responsive in all respects, but the packaging of this vehicle just doesn't hit the mark.

The exterior is boring, the interior is pretty blah as well, and I still don't quite understand the dual displays. It seems a tad overkill and unnecessary to me.

And talk about noisy--this Civic might have the loudest cabin noise I've experienced. I was driving home on a patched-up highway and it sounded as if I was driving on a rumble strip the entire way. I take this road home everyday and it has never triggered an auditory response quite like that in this Civic.

While this time in the Si steered my opinion a couple notches in the right direction, it's still far behind where it should be.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: It pains me to say this, but this isn't really a Civic Si in my book. Sure, it has a stiffer suspension, bigger 17-inch rims, a rear spoiler, aluminum pedals and shift knob and deeper bolstered seats, but the engine disappoints me. Yes, the more powerful engine with 201 hp (up 4 hp from the 2011 model) and 170 lb-ft of torque (up 31 lb-ft from the previous car) is what bothers me here.

Why is that? A proper Civic Si, in my opinion, has to have a high-revving engine with power peaking way up there. But how about the nice jump in torque, you say? Doesn't matter, because torque and a Civic Si do not go together in my mind. Did the Acura Integra Type R have torque? No, but it had an 8,400-rpm redline and pulled nicely if you kept the revs up. Honda S2000? Nope, but it spun up to 9,000 rpm or 8,000 rpm depending on what model year you're talking about and that car is a kick in the pants to drive. Am I wrong?

Fact is, this new 2.4-liter four-cylinder isn't special. I mean, you'll find a variant of this engine under the hood of the Accord and the CR-V. A 7,000-rpm redline is disappointing compared with the previous 2.0-liter's 8,000-rpm redline. Is there anything redeeming about the drivetrain? Yes, the six-speed manual is still here in all of its slick-shifting glory, and there is a standard limited slip.

There were also a few things I noticed in the interior. First, the gas pedal isn't bottom-hinged as in the previous car, which I know some people really liked. I don't care either way because Honda has always gotten its pedal placements right, be it top- or bottom-hinged. But I did mind the seat materials. The previous Si had seats trimmed with an Alcantara-like material and mesh inserts, while the new car uses a less expensive and slippery material. It goes along with the overall theme of the lessening of the quality of the interior overall with the deletion of soft-touch surfaces. I will say none of the plastics and trims look bad and there is some interesting graining on all of them, but I do miss the old interior.

How does the car handle? I do long for the days of double wishbones, but that isn't going to happen. But it still handles well with good grip (especially with our test car's summer tires), snappy steering response and grabby brakes, and you can place the car wherever you want without much trouble. It's very well balanced. Understeer? Of course, but the car communicates its limits to the driver well. Ride quality also has been fine-tuned some and won't come close to beating you up.

After my initial run with the new Si, I'm a bit disappointed. Maybe it will grow on me after a couple more at-bats with it. Just really miss that 8,000-rpm redline and the overall design doesn't do enough to really make it standout in the bland and boring Civic lineup.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This orange ball of fire is one of the most fun cars to drive that Honda makes. The 2012 Civic coupe in Si trim is lightning-quick with its shifts yet is easy to operate and smooth. Novices would be pampered by the smooth clutch engagement on this six-speed. The throws are satisfying and quick, and the shifter is short and easy-to-grip--making driving almost like that in a video game. As others have noted, the steering is precise and responsive. I loved the weighted, balanced steering that felt light beneath my fingers as I carved up rush-hour traffic on the way to One Autoweek Tower with the air conditioning and Springsteen cranked.

The chassis is tight without being abusive, and everything is well-composed through corners. It feels sporty, which is what the buyers of this car are seeking. I like the looks. The only thing you can beef about is they look they same. It's not a bad-looking car, it's just not different. I did find the interior to feel a bit mundane. The dashboard parts just seemed to be of lesser quality, though to the touch they were fine. The speedometer in the center was very useful.

Checking in at 2,900 pounds with a potent 201-hp four-cylinder while stickering for just less than $25,000, the Si is an excellent package of power, punch and value--all in a smart balance.

2012 Honda Civic Si Navi Coupe

Base Price: $24,675

As-Tested Price: $24,675

Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; FWD, six-speed manual

Output: 201 hp @ 7,000 rpm, 170 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Curb Weight: 2,897 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/26.1 mpg

Options: None

Andrew Stoy
- Digital editor Andrew Stoy is an avid enthusiast of all cars who has spent the past 15 years writing about the automobile in print, online and for advertising and PR firms.
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